Ruminal Forage Dry Matter, Crude Protein and Fiber Digestion in Steers Fed Alfalfa Hay and Supplemented with Fresh Onion Bulbs or Cracked Corn

Abstract

Pasinato, A., Sevilla, G. and García, J. 1999. Ruminal forage dry matter, crude protein and fiber digestion in steers fed alfalfa hay and supplemented with fresh onion bulbs or cracked corn. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 16: 169–175.

Feeding fresh culled onion to the ruminant livestock is a common practice in Argentine. For studying the in situ ruminal digestion of dry matter, crude protein and fiber of alfalfa hay in steers fed alfalfa hay and supplemented with onion bulbs or com grain, four cannulated steers were allotted to two treatments, alfalfa hay and 0.5% body weight dry matter basis of fresh onions (To) or cracked corn (Tc), arranged in a cross-over design. Forage soluble dry matter fraction was lower (P<0.05) but the rate of digestion was higher (P<0.05) in animals supplemented with onion bulbs. There were no differences (P>0.05) in the kinetics of crude protein and, fiber degradation between the two treatments.

Key words:

• Forage
• onion
• corn
• supplementation
• ruminal digestion